The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
Printed BY Special arrangement Copyrighted. 1857
SIGNOR OLIO
BY ALICE BROWN.


ton of charities yet the Belvile Benevolent
Board felt itself to be so skilfully constituted
that, within its own Jurisdiction, no imposture
could take place. Every case of restitution was
reported to the board, and the board cast its
many eyes 10 the specified direction before send
Ing o coal or a crust One day Miss Emily Full
ham, a regular worker and visitor, was assigned
a new case, the merits of which had been inyes
tigated Mrs. O'Gill, who had been pensoner
of the board, had called at the rooms on Garden
street, to say that an old shoemaker, in Cook
lane, was
"Shtarvin' on a pertater peelin' week. It's
he that's never the man to complain said Mrs
O'Gil. Hes been in the Lane year, an
sorry's the time he's had of it. There was Gus
tom-a little-in the mendin', but none in the
maxim An now his gurl's run off wild his
money. an he's none to buy stock wid-an' how
can he work."
None of the families Miss Emily had thus far
visited lived in quite such nosome and narrow
quarters as this Cook Lane.
II hope it isn't at the other end" said she,
almost shifting. II hope don't look as disguised
rs feel'
No. o was the door-black, rickety sunken on
it's hinges, SO that she had TO push it vigorously
in effecting her entrance.
"Come," sounded tremulous old voice; ''you
are welcome"
The door swung in on what Miss Emily says
was the most pathetic picture she had ever be-
held. The room was very small! and dark. In
one corner stood an old-fashioned cobblers
bench with lasts beneath it in precise order
There was but one window, admitting sufficient
light to render beautiful shapes visible through
tine dim squalor. Pinned here and there against
the walls were helotypes, with some very good
photographs of fine pictures. The Mother and
Child"-among them Raphaels and Null er's-
"Saint Cecilia" saint John" and the adant
michael looked benignantly ont from the
gloom. On rickety chair the only furniture
in the room besides the bench, sat old man,
thin, delicate and shriveled. His small hands
were clasped on his knees. He was facing
Guides Mater Dolorosa" Miss Emily was
shaken out of her self-possession.
Are you :he shoemaker who asked hep!' she
hesitated.
'You will sit DOWN." said the old man.
ssweetly, offering her the chair and taking the
bench himself. "No. madam, do not ask it.
Mrs. O'Gill she asked it for me- 1t is not my
consent
YES but you are the one," said Miss Emily,
relieved. Now, are you willing to talk about
''It is quite Dead quite dead. is business. said
the old creature with erieved smile. II have
no money to buy the leather. Ny girl took it away
my Dolorosa."
.'And you don't know where she wentq
ITO New York; but it is so large there. so very
large place that could never find her. She
WAS dear to me-my Doorosa.'
The syllabes fell so sweet and round from his
regretful tongue! Miss Emily's kind gray eyes
filled with tears
II wish you would tell me about it Was
there trouble between you"
mo. no trouble loved her. and she seemed
to care for me to the last and then she cared for
some else and went away with him. That
is what her letter tells me-"
''And left you without a cent?
without the money. yes. And it has been
hard to live. / do not know rich people, and the
poor canno. lend"
Dear me! dear mel But your picruresl said
Miss Emily, with curiosity as lively as her
sympathy.
'.They are miner waking from his almost apa-
.hetic calm. II will not part from them; no,
not even for my bread! How did get them2
Yes, you may ask it. l put together my money,
my one two, three cents at time. and then,
when / have enough l 60 to the picture store and
bring home the beautiful faces"
"But do you know about them-their names
who painted themF
Nothing. madam. l do not know whether
the gentlemen who painted them may not live
very near. l do not care for the pictures names.
only love them"
Miss Emily could scarcely wait to question
him further, being exceedingly anxious to spread
the news of her discovery. By the next week.
at least fifty people knew that there was an &C.
centric ard gifted shoe maker in Cook Lane, an
old creature who never had heard of en- artist
bu. who was. nevertheless. worshiping art.
Mrs. Helmholtz went down Immediately to
have her foot measured, staying to give lect-
ure on art made easy, as preliminary to the cul-
tivation OF the old mans evidently exceptional
powers
TOO late for him to study9 Not at all!r cried
she. Haven't all read the paragraph on
somebody or others learning to play the violin
at eighty, and somebody elses taking up Greek
at an advanced age! Signor Olio shall study
art"
The board had meanwhile furnished him with
the money needful for purchasing small guam
tity of stock. 1t also agreed to provide him
with bread and butter until he should be able to
earn it The board had, very properly, no idea
of allowing him to sit in idleness, even for the
purpose OF contemplating his pictures. The
lady visitors who had seen him. nay, those who
had even beard of him, pretended to no such
lukewarm charity. They went to his house in
professions and aocks until Cook Lane lived in
such whirl and turmoil that the wives could
scarcely get time for putting the potatoes in the
oven for the husbands dinners. No sooner did a
resident of Cook Lane get her hands fairly into
the suds on Monday morning than in came some
few of the myrads of children at play in the
cutters, shreking:
"Ther's more OF them goiu to Number Nine!s
you're making a nice little sum every week,
aren't your said Miss Emily, one day, contem.
plating the old man with the pride of one in DOS
session of some unique work. "Do you lay up
anythingf
Everything, Madam. but what gets my bread
and tea" said the Signor, sadly. II must. Do
lorosa may come back. She may come any time
sick, unhappy. What could she do if l had
nothing to giveF
Beautiful. fatherly forgiveness thought
Exn;lv FALL -.
moral distance beneath this simple old nan.
At this point the door opened, and a woman
same in, woman trailing purple silk her cheek!
blooming purple under magnificent blue ha
and feather. SiguoY Olio started and cast ,
quick glance at Miss Emly--a glance followed
by the woman's eyes, She hesitated for mo
ment, then grew perceptibly holder and NOR
Haunting
q 1--WE come to have some shoes made
''You will then let me take your measure!
said the shoemaker. his smooth, sweet tones il
silver contrast with hers
She sat down and he went gravely through tn
process, Miss Emily keenly watching both. Sh
prided herself on possessing quick intutions
she distrnsted this woman at once. The visito
left, presently, with u swing and f1aunt as sh
came
why" said Miss Emily. 'you haven't take
her name. You did not ask her what kind O
shoes she wanted"
.'Ah," said the Signor, putting his delicat
hand to his forehead 1T is my poor head.
will rot think of shoes. 1t sees these forms s.
floating before it"-pointing to a Madonna
"that it can make room for no other things
And Miss Emily took her leave, profoundly i'm